After conducting an SEO audit, most SEOs typically begin with addressing the technical aspects first. This step is closely followed by on-page SEO.
Off-page SEO often falls to the bottom of the list, as many professionals prefer to approach tasks in a mixed order, indicating a preference for a comprehensive approach.
This data comes from a survey and represents an ideal strategy for SEOs to follow. Here’s why:
## Technical SEO
Think of SEO as building a house. Technical SEO is akin to constructing a solid foundation. It involves optimizing the site structure to ensure it can be easily crawled and indexed by search engines. Starting with technical SEO is a sound strategy because you need your house in order before focusing on the interior design.
## On-Page SEO
Continuing with the house analogy, if technical SEO is the foundation, then on-page SEO is the interior design. However, it’s not just about aesthetics. On-page SEO primarily refers to the content published on the site and how well it is optimized for search engines, while also providing value to visitors.
Addressing on-page SEO logically follows a focus on the technical side. In some cases, you might encounter a website where on-page SEO needs more attention initially, which is why it received so many votes in the survey.
## A Mix of Everything
This approach can be challenging, akin to building a home while simultaneously designing the interior. It’s not impossible but requires careful management. Sometimes, working on technical SEO may reveal on-page issues that need urgent attention. Other times, clients might pull you in different directions. As such, a mix of everything is sometimes unavoidable.
## Off-Page SEO
It’s unsurprising that off-page SEO ranked last in the survey. Unless a client has significant issues with inbound links, this shouldn’t take priority over technical or on-page SEO. Off-page SEO mainly focuses on acquiring links from authoritative websites and marketing the site on social media.
For local websites, it might include building citations in local directories. For news sites, it could involve getting content syndicated or indexed in news aggregators. While these tasks are vital post-audit, they should typically follow after addressing technical and on-page SEO.
## Have Your Say
What do you prioritize after an SEO audit? Are the survey results in line with your expectations? Share your thoughts in the next survey and join the conversation on social media for future polls and data.
